Excavating-machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets- Sheet 1.

s. P; WELCH.l

EXCAVATING MACHINE. Y l l No`.289,734. K Patented Deo. 4, 1883.

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" S. F. WELCH.

- EXGAVATING MACHINE. l No. 289,734. Patented Deopll, 1883.y

4(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- S. F. WELCH.

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- WIT/VESSES W (No Model.)

I '-5 Smets-sheet 5. S. F. WEI..CII.` EXGAVATING MACHINE. No. 289.734.

Patented D' @illlllllIllllll ii Illll UNITED STATES' PATENT mon., 1

S. FRANK VELCH, OF MOUNT-PLEASANT, IOWA.

SPECIFICATION forming partvof Letters Patent No. 89,734, dated December 4, 1883.

. Application nieu May 10,1883. (No model.)

b all 7077/0752, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, S. FRANK WELCH, of Mount'Pleasant, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Impro vements in Excavating-Machines;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artv to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to anv improvement in excavators, and more particularly to that class thereof which are designed and adapted to `be usedin the construction of ditches to receive vtiling for drainage or other purposes, the object of the vinvention being to produce a machine of the character designated which shall combine simplicity and cheapness of construction with durability and efficiency in use.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims..

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of an excavator constructed in 4accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view thereof in rear elevation, the excavating devices being left out. Fig. 3 is a view of the machine in side elevation, with parts omitted. Fig. 4 is a detached view in perspective of the main frame. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the auxiliary frame, and Fig. 6 is a detached View of the pulley and gearing for actuating the elevator-belt.

The machine consists, essentially, of a main and an auxiliary frame with which the carrying, excavating, adjusting, and earth-delivering devices are associated, as will be hereinafter described.

The main frame consists, essentially, of two parallel bars, A, united by cross-bars B, of curved uprights C, having their upper ends bolted together and their lower ends, respectively, attached to the rear ends of the bars A, and of two parallel frame-bars, D, arranged diagonally with respect to thebars A, and adapted to support and guide the elevatingbelt E. A draft-bail, F, fulcrumed to the outer ends ofthe bars A, is adjusted and held -in place between two perforated segmental racks, G, formed integral with or attached to theV outer ends of the said bars, this adjustment of the draft-bail being necessary to compensate for the gradual depression of the machine as the ditch increases in depth. A drive-wheel, H, journaled between the rear extremities of the bars A, and having a convexed periphery encircled by a series ofholes, is arranged to actuate the elevating-belt E and the delivery-apron I through'a'sprocket, J, having a wedge-shaped periphery and mounted ony the shaft K, the saine being journaled in bearings L, secured to the uprights C aforesaid. A pinion, M, mounted on the said shaft K, meshes with a pinion, N, combining spur and bevel teeth, which respectively engage with the teeth of a pinion, O, mounted on the shaft I? of the drum Q, and with the teeth of the pinion R of the delivery-apron I, the vsaid apron beingl supported by braces S, secured to the uprights G, as shown.

The auxiliary frame consists of horizontal bars T, having their forward ends pivotally secured to the bars A at c of the main frame, of upright bars U, yto the lower ends of which the rear ends ofthe bars T are secured, of uprights V, conforming in curve to the uprights O aforesaid, and having their upper ends bolted together, androf the shaftsW and th yaxles X, and their attachments-` The upper ds of the bars U are respectively bolted to the uprights V, while the lower ends are rigidly secured to segmental racks Y, secured to the shafts W, the inner ends ofsaidshafts being supported bythe lower ends of the uprights V, which are monnted and adapted tobe ver-y tically reciprocated inbe'aringsvor guides Z, secured to the uprights C of the main frame. The axles X, supporting the carrying-wheels A, are mounted in the outer ends of crankarms B,`journaledon the shafts W. Operating-levers C', attached to the outer ends of the crank-arms B', are provided with spring-actuated dogs D', adapted to be engaged with the teeth of the racks Y, and thus maintain the shafts in any desired elevation with respect to Athe axles and auxiliary frame.

Seats E', for the driver and operator, are pivoted to the outer ends' of'springsF, secured to the shafts WV in any suitable manner.

Provision for the adjustment ofthe seats, to compensate for the depression of the forward end of the auxiliary frame as the ditch increases in depth, is made in slotted plates G',

pivoted to the springs aforesaid, and adapted to be engaged by hand-nuts H', attached tothe backs of the seats.

Rests for the feet are provided for in stirrups l', mounted and adapted to be adjusted upon the bars T of the auxiliary frame, as shown. In virtue of the pivotal attachment of the auxiliary to the main frame, the motions imparted to the former by the undulations in the surfaces passed over by the wheels are not transmitted to thelatter, thereby permitting the execution of aperfect grada line in the bottom of the ditch. Vhen, however, the machine is not in use, the two frames are locked together by means of hooks J', pivoted to the uprights C, and adapted to be engaged with studs K', projecting from the outer faces of the uprights V, the object of locking the two frames being to elevate the drivingwheel above the ground and to throw the weight of the rear end of the machine upon the carrying-wheels A. In this condition the machine is moved from place to place.

vThe elevating-belt E' isinclosed between two shields, L', preferablyformed of sh eetmetal, and bolted orl riveted to the diagonal bars D, their function being to guide the earth as it is carried'upward by the curved buckets of the belt, and to protect the belt andpreventloose earth from falling on to or between thebelt from the sides of the ditch. The upper end of thisbelt runs over a drum, Q, journaled between the bars C, and the lower end of the said belt runs over a similar but smaller drum, M', journaled between the bars N'. Rollers O', (see Fig. 3,) journaled between the bars D, are employed to guide and support the belt at intermediate points between the drums. y

The scoop l?' and the spade-wheel Q' are mounted in a frame composed of two pairs of parallel bars, which are respectively designatedsby N' and R', the rear end of the said bars terminating in a box, S', in which the caster-Wheel T' is secured by a vertical pivot, whereby it is free to turn from side to side. The scoop P', Which is interposed between and bolted'to the bars N' and R', as shown, is provided With a shoe, U', the rear end of which is supported by bars V', respectively, attached to the bars R'. The spade-Wheel Q', which is situated a little in advance of the scoop, and Which is revolved by contact with the solid earth, operates to force the earth in the scoop through the same and onto the elevating-belt.

For the purpose of gradually depressing the scoop P as the work progresses, and for elevating and sustaining the scoop and spade- Wheel entirely out of Contact with the earth when the machine is not in operation, I employ a system of adjusting-levers consisting of the hand-,lever W', the rod X', the arm 'Y', the arms VZ', and the parallel lifting -levers A2. The hand-lever W' is pivoted to one of the diagonal bars D of the main frame, its upper end being provided with a bearing, B2, arranged to support the segmental rack C2. A

spring-aetuated dog, D2,fulerumed to the lever,

isu arranged to maintainv it in any desired position with respect to the rack by engaging with the teeth thereof. The lower end of the lever is provided with a slot, E2, which receives a stud, F2, attached to the rod X', and furnished with a handnut, G2, adapted to engage with the lever and hold the rod in any desired adjustment within the range of the slot. lThe outer end of the rod X' is pivoted to the arm Y', the same being rigidly mounted on a shaft, H2, to which the arms Z' are also secured in like manner. rlhe said arms Z are attached to the lifting-arms A2, the lower ends of which are pivoted to the bars R aforesaid. Any forward deflection of the hand-lever W' will operate to depress the scoop,while on the other hand any rearward deflection thereof will elevate it. Variations in the out of the scoop are made by adjusting the lever through the range of the teeth formed on the outer end of the rack 5 but when it is desired to elevate the scoop and spade-wheel entirely out of the ditch and above the ground, the lever is moved back and engaged with a notch formed near the inner end of the rack. The adjustment of the lever WV' to vary the cut of the plow is made in accordance with the indications of a spirit-level, J', mounted on a plate, K2, pivoted to the horizontal bar M2, which is fulcrumed midway of its length tothe longer of two upright bars, N2, the same being secured to the two bars A and D of the main frame. Two diagonal bars, O2, extending from the bars A to the said bars N2, operate to brace the latter. The outer end of the bar M2 aforesaid is attached to the longer of the upright bars A2 through an elongated slot, P2, allowing for the vertical adjustment of the said bar A2, which, when depressed or elevated through the agency of the hand-lever W', elevates or depresses the spirit-level. In virtue of its mounting the level indicates every elevation of the forward end of the :machine from the plane in which it is set to Work, the level being set to correspond to this plane by the aid of the graduated plate. The variations of the machinefroxn its normal plane, as indicated by the level, are corrected by the operator, who imparts appropriate adjustment to the hand-lever V.

Having set forth the construction of my improved machine in detail, I will now proceed to describe the method of its operation.

After the teaInQis attached to the draft-bail, the driver mounts the right-hand seat, While theoperator takes the position in that to the left. The operating-levers are now thrown back to drop the drive-Wheel upon the ground. This done, the main and auxiliary frames are unlocked, and the hand-lever is disengaged from the segmental rack. As the team starts, the operator allows the saidhand-lever to move forward until the scoop enters the ground and begins to cut the desired grade, as indicated by the spirit-level. At this stage of the operation the lever is engaged with the rack and not disturbed until the level indicates that the IOO .machine is not cutting the desired' grade, when the lever vis moved again to restore the machine to the proper plane. As the soil is loosened, the spade-wheel forces it up through the scoop and onto the carrier, by which it is conveyed to the delivery-apron, the latter discharging it to one side and clear of the track of the team. Upon reaching the end of the ditch the machine is elevated entirely out of it through the agency of the hand-lever. This done the machine is turned about, the level reset for the return grade, and another cut made, the operation being repeated until the ditch is completed. Y.

It will be observed that when in operation the entire machine, except the auxiliary frame, the seats, and carrying-wheels, are located in the ditch, the extension of the carrying-wheels affording a broad base forl the machine, whereby it is prevented from careening. It should also be remarked that, in virtue of the -mode of attaching the carrying-wheels to the auxiliary frame, they may be arranged to run in different planes, thus adapting the machine to be operated on hillsides or sloping land. rIhe entire weight of the forward end of the ma` chine is supported bythe caster-wheel, the friction of the scoop being thus reduced to the minimum. rIhe weight of the forward end of the machine falls upon the scoop only when the caster wheel sinks into cavities or depressions in the bottom of the ditch; but this will occur only during the rst few times over the ditch and before a regular grade has been established in it. The exterior face of the scoop and the peripheries of the caster and drive wheels are conformed to each other and shaped so that the ditch formed by the machine will center tiles of any size and bring their ends in position to be joined. Finally, the construction of the drive-wheel and the sprocket adapts the machine to be used to good advantage in wet and clinging soils, for the teeth of the sprocket force the earth from the holes in the periphery of the drive-wheel, while the earth adhering to the periphery of the said wheel is removed by the pointed periphery of the sprocket.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an excavating-machine, the combination, with the main frame, having an excavating-scoop, and a spade-wheel adapted to act in conjunction therewith, and elevating and .discharge belts, of the auxiliary frame pivotally secured to the main frame, and provided with supporting carrying-wheels, adj ustable seats, and means constructed, substantially as described, to lock the two frames together, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an excavating-machine, the combination, with a main frame having the excavating and elevating devices associated with it, of an auxiliary frame supporting carryingwheels, mounted on axes adapted to be inde: pendentl'y adjusted to vary elevation of the auxiliary frame above the said wheels, substantially as set forth.

3. In an excavating-machine, the combination, with a main frame having excavating and elevating devices associated with it, of an auxiliary frame pivotally attached to the main frame, and supporting carrying-wheels and adjustable seats, substantially as set forth.

4C. In an excavating-machine, the combination, with the pointed scoop, the revolving spade-wheel mounted in a frame fulcrumed to the forward end of the machine, and carried by a caster-wheel at its rear end, the spades of thewheel being` adapted to sweep through the scoop and feed the soil to the elevatingbelt, and means constructed, substantially as described, to move the said frame on its fulcrum and elevate or depress the scoop and spade-wheel, of the elevating and discharge belts, substantially as set forth.

5. In an excavating-machine, the combination, with the main frame, of a frame pivoted to the forward end thereof, and provided with a caster-wheel at its rear, the elevating-lever and segment-bar, the connecting-rod, the arm, and' the bar connected with the pivoted frame, whereby the elevation of the forward end and of the plow is varied with respect to the ground, substantially as set forth.

6. In an excavating-machine, the combination, with a scoop, a spade-wheel, and a caster-wheel mounted in a frame fulcrumed to the IOO forward end of the machine, of a system of levers extending rearward in reach of the operator, and arranged to move the said frame on its fulcrum and elevate or depress the scoop and spade-wheel and the forward end of the machine, substantially as set forth.

7. In an excavating-machine, the combination, with the main frame carrying excavating and elevating devices, and the adjusting devices to elevate and depress them to vary the cut of the machine, of the horizontal bar fulcrumed on the main frame, and provided at one end with a spirit-level, and having its other end pivotally connected with the adjusting devices.

8. In an excavating-machine, the combination, with the main frame carrying excavating and elevating devices, and the devices to elevate and depress them to vary the cut of the machine, of the bar pivotally connected to the main frame and to the elevating devices, the spirit-level, and the graduated plate mounted on said bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

S. FRANK WELCH. Witnesses:

FREDRICK JoNAs, GHARLns C. WELCH.

IIO 

